Career hotline
by Pervin Malhotra

Deadline

Campus Scene
Teachers’ association
From Varinder Walia
AMRITSAR: A piquant situation arose when the Election Commission postponed elections of the GNDU (Non-Teaching) Employees Association from August 31 to September 8 on the basis of a "fake" request made on behalf of the President of the association to the commission.

Role of IGNOU in “distance education”

IN our country the terms ‘distance education’ and "correspondence education" are sometimes used as synonyms. However, while correspondence education depend only on one medium i.e. the print material distance education lays emphasis not only on print material but also on other media. In fact, a multimedia approach is the cornerstone of distance education.

Distance education, in fact, represent distance teaching plus distance learning. It is the third stage in the evolution. The first being the gurukul system and the second classroom teaching. The origin of distance education lies basically in the philosophy that society has a responsibility to provide educational opportunities to those who for some reason of the other cannot go through the conventional system.

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is India and the subcontinent. It is a university with a mission to open doors of higher education to all and make learning innovative, flexible, job oriented and cost-effective.

—To achieve its mission, IGNOU has set-up aims of:

• Expanding higher education facilities and widening access by a diversity of means.
• Providing need based programmes.
• Reaching out to a large number of people, especially the disadvantaged.
• Establishing and operationalising a major open university network.
• Establishing and developing educational resource bases.
• Assuring the quality of programmes, and services offered.

INITIAL STEPS

• Training about 3 million elected members of village panchayats.
• Upgrading competence of workers in leather and construction industry.
• Youth, health and nutrition projects.
• Training organisers of women’s self help groups.
• IGNOU — Army Educational project.

To reach the benefits of its activities to the largest number of students, IGNOU has established and developed a nationwide network of 21 regional centres and 400 study centres. The study centres are hosted by different institutions, universities, colleges, industrial houses, medical institutions and prisons. Over 20,000 professionals drawn from these institutions assist the 1,300 strong core-staff of the university in the design, development and delivery of its programmes.

LATEST COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

With the changing times, the university has ably utilised modern communication technologies to reach out to learners scattered all over India. IGNOU has an impressive repository of audio-video programmes to strengthen its study materials. These programmes are transmitted on the national television network as well as on selected radio stations.

IGNOU has a state-of-the-art Electronic Media Production Centre (EMPC), a generous gift from the government of Japan, which has the finest audio and video production facilities in South Asia. The EMPC is equipped to provide training in media production, script writing, presentation techniques, video and audiography as well as provide training in media production, script writing, presentation techniques, video and audiography as well as technical operations to both national and international clientele.

The success of the open and distance learning paradigm depends upon the identification and proper harnessing of new technology and tools. The emerging Internet and Intranet technologies help in the effective dissemination of knowledge. With the use of Internet, clicking through web pages is much more convenient than flipping through a book.

IGNOU is making an attempt to create an open educational scheme through web-based teaching and learning tools such that students have an access to high-quality, affordable materials and learning interactions that meet their requirements in the rapidly changing information age.

Following programmes are on offer over the Internet: Master in Computer Applications (MCA), Bachelor in Computer Application (BCA) and Certificate in Computing (CIC).

INTERNATIONAL SCENE

IGNOU has contributed significantly to the development of the open learning system abroad. Its learning packages have attracted international acclaim. The Open University of Hong Kong has procured IGNOU study materials in English and management. Over hundred students from 14 Commonwealth countries have enrolled for the Master’s Degree in Distance Education under the aegis of the Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship scheme instituted by the Commonwealth of Learning.

In recent years, countries in Africa, the Gulf region and the Indian Ocean islands have sought collaboration with IGNOU for launching its academic programmes in universities in these countries. IGNOU programmes have already been launched in Dubai, Muscat, Bahrein, Kuwait, Oman and the Seychelles.

The Staff Training and Research Institute in Distance Education (STRIDE) at IGNOU has provided training to academics from SAARC nations and has developed expertise in the areas of development of self-instructional materials, format design, editing, assignments, counselling and other distance education-related operations. IGNOU and Edexcel Foundation UK have collaborated to offer Bachelor of Information Technology and Advance Diploma in Information Technology.

These initiatives are a part of IGNOU’s ambitious plan of introducing ‘Virtual Campus’.

Career hotline
by Pervin Malhotra

After completing my postgraduation in political science, I would like to pursue research in defence and strategic studies. Please suggest institutions.

Rajiv Kumar Kattar, Hoshiarpur

A relevant institution to contact is the United Services Information Service, Rao Tula Marg, New Delhi 110057 which is involved in considerable ongoing research in this field.

The following universities also offer research facilities in this area:

• Department of Defence & Strategic Studies, University of Madras, Centenary Buildings Chepauk, Triplicane PO, Chennai 600005.
• Strategic Studies Centre, University of Allahabad 211002, UP.
• Department of Strategic Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, UP.

I am working in a private firm and wish to improve my qualifications by doing MA. I have heard that some universities offer admission directly to MA with or without previous qualifications. If it is possible, please advice.

Kiran Chadha, Jalandhar Cantt

Yes it is true that some universities do offer courses in MA without any previous, formal qualification. However, these courses are not regular full-time courses, but through distance education. One open university and three universities offer these courses under their Distance Education programme.

Here are the details:

• Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalainagar 608002.
  Notification: August.
  Elig: Minimum age 21 years.
• Bangalore University, Directorate of Distance Education, Jnana Bharathi, Bangalore 560056.
  Notification: July.
• Madurai Kamraj University, Directorate of Distance Education, Madurai 625021.
  Notification: May/June
• Karnataka State Open University, Pavate Nagar, Dharwad 580003.
  Notification: May/June

Also, Annamalai and Madurai University conduct an entrance test for admission to these courses.

I am doing BSc (H) in electronics. Simultaneously, I am also doing the GNIIT programme. Could you please tell me what job option I have after completing these courses.

Roshan Qureshi, New Delhi

With these courses under your belt, you could seek employment in the private or public sector organisations involved in the design, manufacture and application of electronic devices, radio and television, telecommunication systems, cellular phones, radar and navigational aids, computer hardware and software process control, etc. The public sector includes companies like VSNL, MTNL, PRL, AIR, civil aviation and the police wireless departments. Job opportunities for specialists also exist in the entertainment industry, research establishments and defence. You can also take up teaching and research in engineering colleges and polytechniques.

After, completing the GNIIT programme, you could either go in for software programming, systems analysis or design. Of these, systems design is a technical function that requires a background in electronics. The work involves taking the outline specification for a system prepared by the systems analyst, selecting the appropriate hardware components and finally designing the necessary interfacing equipment.

You could even pitch for a career in sales and marketing in the electronics, computers or telecommunication industry.

I have been working for eight years and am employed in the marketing department of a public limited company. I now wish to do a part-time or correspondence course in foreign trade management. Can you please suggest recognised institutes offering this course.

Sandeep Sharma, Noida.

You are in luck. You can take your pick from the following correspondence courses:

• Institute of Management Technology, Raj Nagar, Hapur Road, Post Box 137, Ghaziabad 201001. Course: Diploma in Export Management. Duration: 1-year. Eligibility" Graduation.
• Indian Institute of Export Management, PB 7531, 1953, 9th Cross, 4th Main, New Thippasandra, Bangalore 560075. Course: Diploma in Export Management. Duration: 4 months. Eligibility: Class XII.
• National Institute of Shipping & International Trade, 6-21-4, East Point Colony, Visakhapatnam 530023. Course: PG Diploma in Export Management. Duration: 1-year. Eligibility: Graduation.

While there are several part-time courses available nationally, the following would suit you:

• Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, IIFT Bhawan, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016. Course: Export Marketing. Duration: 4 months (Aug-Nov). Course: Logistics. Duration: 4 months (Sept-Dec). For both courses, 2-year work experience is essential.
• The Small Industries Service Institute is offering a Specialised Training Programme in Export Management. The duration of the course is from 30 Mar. - 15 April ‘98 (2-5 pm). Entrepreneurs, promoters, managers of small industries and those involved in export business activities are eligible to enrol for this programme.

For further information, you could contact:
The Director, Small Industries Service Institute, Govt of India, Ministry of Industry, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110020.

I have cleared my MBBS and wish to do a diploma of National Board. Please tell me what are the pros and cons of the DNB as compared to MD or MS.

Dr Neeraj Kumar, Chandigarh.

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) is an autonomous body established by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Primarily to conduct postgraduate and higher examinations in various disciplines of medical sciences of uniform standard at the national level. A Diplomate of National Board is recognised as equivalent to a postgraduate degree (MD/MS in broad specialities) and post-doctoral degree level qualifications (DM/MCh) offered by Indian universities.

The examination of the Board is held in two parts: Primary and Final. The common Primary Examination for all the board specialities and for the direct 5-year courses in Neurosurgery, Paediatric Surgery and Plastic Surgery is open to all candidates who have completed their internship. The exam is of the standard of the MBBS course.

However, those with postgraduate qualifications in any speciality (both degrees and diplomas) from universities recognised by the Medical Council of India are exempted from the Primary Exam and may appear directly for the Final Exam.

Those who pass the final examination are eligible to be considered for posts of specialists in any hospital other than a training or teaching institute. For teaching appointments in the broad specialities, besides a Diplomate NBE you should have at least 1-year of teaching experience as a tutor/registrar/demonstrator or hold an equivalent post in a recognised undergraduate medical college. For those Diplomate NBEs in super-speciality subjects, the training period is 2 years in a medical college offering postgraduate degree in the concerned speciality for appointment as a lecturer.

The Bulletin of Information & Application Form can be obtained from the Asstt Registrar, NBE, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029.

Watch out for the notification that has appeared recently.

Deadline

Armed Forces

Sept 30 Indian Army DG of Medical Services, AG’s Branch,Army HQ, Room No. 45, ‘C’, Block Hutments, New Delhi 110001.

BSc (4 yrs), General Nursing & Midwifery (3 yrs) course for female. Elig: SSE (10+2) passed in one attempt as a regular student (PCB 50% agg). Age: Born between 1 Sept ‘75 - 1 Sept ‘83.

Appln Form: See Employment News 21-27 Aug ‘99.

Oct 15 Indian Army

NCC Special Entry Scheme for Short Service Commission (NT)

Elig: (I) Graduation (50% agg) (ii) NCC ‘C’ Certificate with minimum B-Grade.Age: 19-25 yrs.

Appln Form: Details are available with all NCC Group HQs.

Oct 24 Indian Army, Army Education Corps.

Recruitment of Havildar Education in Group ‘X’ & ‘Y’ for (i) Science (ii) Arts.

Elig: Group X: BA; B.Ed/B.Sc; B.Ed/MA/M.Sc. Group Y: B.A./B.Sc. (1) B.Sc in Math/ Phy/ Chem/Botany/Zoology/Electronics/Comp Sc.

(ii) BA in English Lit/Hindi Lit/Urdu/His/Geog/Pol Sc/Econ/Psycho/Math/Socio. Graduate with at least two of the above mentioned subjects plus working knowledge of Eng/Hindi for both.

Appln Form: Contact the nearest recruitment office.

Corresp Courses

Centre for Distance Education, Osmania University, Hyderabad-7.

Sept 10 l BA/BA (lang)/B.Com/ PDC

Oct 10 l MA/ M.Com/M.Sc/PG Dip

Info Bulletin & Appln Forms: Send Rs 50/- by DD (drawn by State Bank of Hyderabad/SBI/ Andhra Bank /Canara Bank) in favour of "Director Distance Education" payable at Hyderabad along with self-addressed envelope (11"x5") clearly mentioning the course to the above address.

Sept 18 Karnataka State Open University, Manasgangotri, Mysore 570006

Undergrad, Postgrad, PGD, Post PUC Dip & Certificate Courses

Info Bulletin & Appln Form: Send Rs 100/- (for undergrad, PGD, Post PUC Dip & Cert), Rs 200/- (for Postgrad) and Rs 300/- (for MBA) +Rs 100/- as late fee by DD in favour of "K.S. Univ" (A/c No. 8), to the above address.

Sept 29 Madurai Kamaraj University,Directorate of Distance Education, University Buildings,Palkalainagar, Madurai 625021.

(1) Open University System:BA in History/ Economics/ Political Sc/ Social Sc/ English Lit/ Tamil Lit/B.Sc (Math)/ B.Com/ BBA.

MA in History/Econ/Pol Sc/Public Admin/English Lit/Tamil Lit/Gandhian Thought/Philosophy &Relig/Labour Mgmt/Sociol/M.Com.

(2) Regular Courses: BA in History/Economics/Political Sc/Social Sc/English Literature/ Tamil Lit/B.Sc (Maths)/B.Sc (Computer Sc)/B.Com/BA.MA in History/Economics/Political Science/Public Administration/English Lit/Tamil Lit/Gandhian Thought/ Philosophy &Relig/ Sociology/ Journalism & Mass Comm/ Adv &PR/ Labour Management/ Bank Management/ Tourism Management/M.Sc (Math)/M.Com/BGL/M.Ed/ MBA/ MCA/ BLI Sc/MLI Sc.

(3) Certificate/Diploma/PG Diploma Courses: Cert in Library Sc. Dip in Labour Laws & Admin Law, PG in Journalism &Mass Comm, Management, Computer Appln, Personal Mgt and Industrial Rel. Elig: For UG Courses: 18-yrs. For PG Courses: 21-yrs as on June 1, ‘99.

Appln Form: Send Rs 80/- (for UG and PG courses), Rs 130/- for B.Sc), Rs 280/- (for MBA and MCA) by DD in favour of the "Programme Officer" to the above address.

Sept 20 Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education, Annamalainagar 608002. TN.

Foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma & certificate course in various disciplines.

Courses& Elig: See the advertisement published in leading national dailies.

Appln Form: Send Rs 50/- for general courses and Rs 250/- for MBA by crossed DD in favour of the "Director, DDE, Annamalai University" drawn on any bank at Annamalainagar/Chidambaram along with a self-addressed envelope (27 cm x 21 cm) clearly mentioned the course, to the Director. Also in cash at counter till September 20.

Scholarships

Sept 15 Deptt of Space, Indian Space,Research Organisation (ISRO), HQ, Antariksh Bhawan, New Bel Road, Bangalore 560094.

(1) Senior Research Fellow (SRF) (2 yrs)

(2) Junior Research Fellow (JRF) (1 yr)

Elig: For (1): (i) M.Sc. Agriculture (Agronomy) + 2 yrs exp. (ii) M.Sc. Agriculture (Extension) + 2 yrs exp.

For (2): BE (Comp Sc.)

Appln form: see leading Newspapers of 26 Aug ’99.

Sept 29 M/o Science & Technology (Deptt of Science & Technology), Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Rd, New Delhi 110016.

Swarnajayanti Fellowships

Elig: Ph.D in Sc/Engg/Masters in Engg or Tech/MD in Medicine.

Age: 30-40 yrs as on 31 Dec‘99.

Appln form: See leading Newspapers of 13 Aug ‘99.

Sept 30 M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Room No. 212, 2nd floor, ‘D’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001.

Research Fellowships in Tribal Development

Elig: Registered for Ph.D/Post-Doctoral study in recognised Univ with a background of Social Sc/Agriculture/Medicine etc.

Appln Form: For further details see Employment News of 7-13 Aug ‘99.

State Service

Sept 16 Punjab Public Service Commission, Baradari Gardens, Patiala 147001.

Recruitment of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)/ Deputy Superintendent Jail (Grade-II)/ Distt Probation Officers.

Elig: Graduation (3 yrs).

Age: 21-28 yrs as 1 Feb ‘99

Appln Form: Send Rs 175/- by DD in favour of "Secretary, Punjab Public Service Commission" at the above address or Rs 150/- in cash at the reception counter.

Technology

Sept 15 Central Footwear Training Institute (M/o Industry Gol) Vikas Sheel Bharat Compound, Transport Nagar, Agra 282002.

(1) Certificate in Design & Product Development (1yr)

(2) Basic Design & Pattern Engg Course (8 weeks)

(3) Supervisor (Stitching) (4 weeks)

(4) Operator (Checking (4 weeks)

(5) Operator (Bottom Making & lasting) (4 weeks)

Elig: For (1), (4) & (5): VII passed.

For (2) & (3): XII passed.

Appln Form: Send Rs. 125/- by DD in favour of "Director, CFTI" at the above address of Rs 100/- in cash at the counter.

Unless otherwise specified, the dates mentioned above are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms.

CARING (Career Information & Guidance), New Delhi.

Campus Scene
Teachers’ association
From Varinder Walia

AMRITSAR: A piquant situation arose when the Election Commission postponed elections of the GNDU (Non-Teaching) Employees Association from August 31 to September 8 on the basis of a "fake" request made on behalf of the President of the association to the commission. Mr Sukhminder Singh Randhawa, President of the association, says his signatures were forged by mischievous persons. There are more than 1600 non-teaching employees who are members of the association. Mr Randhawa claims his signatures were forged by "vested interests" who wanted to get the elections postponed.

Unidentified persons wrote to the Election Commission on a letterhead of the association under forged signatures of Mr Randhawa that the election be postponed as most employees could not participate in the poll process due to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Though the association wrote to the commission that the letter was a forged one, the commission directed the authorities to conduct the elections after the elections.

Mr Randhawa says the university should order a probe into the matter.

* * * *

The construction of Guru Nanak Heritage Centre and two hostels has begin on a warfooting. Work on Maharaja Ranjit Singh Bhavan has also started. The foundation stone of this bhavan was laid by the then Prime Minister, Mr Inder Kumar Gujral.

* * * *

For the first time in the history of the university, the executive committee of the teachers association has been elected unopposed. The new team took over the charge in August. The team comprises Prof H.S. Sidhu (President), Dr Sharnjit Singh Dhillon (Vice-President), Dr Kulwant Singh (Secretary), Dr Amarjit Singh Sidhu (Joint Secretary) and Prof R.S. Bajwa (Treasurer).

The executive members are Mr G.S. Buttar, Mr J.K. Dhillon, Dr J.S. Sekhon, Dr Joginder Singh, Dr T.S. Banipal and Dr Parveen Paul.

* * * *

A mess was created due to an untimely amendment by the university Syndicate regarding increase in the aggregate pass percentage required for graduation and postgraduation students. Interestingly, any student can be considered a compartment case if he or she skipped or failed an exam. What is worse, the amendment was enforced from the current session without the knowledge of students. The new amendment adversely affected various results leading to a lot of resentment.